Grabbing Video and Stills with
MediaGrabber
In 203 Recitation Hall, we have MediaGrabber on computer #21. The essential power of MediaGrabber is its ability to grab still images from video. Unfortunately, this program is not capable of capturing moving video. Other programs, like Premiere and other video capture programs in the lab, can achieve this. Computer #21 is equipped with a HI-8 and a SVHS VCR. Accordingly, MediaGrabber can grab images from HI-8, SVHS, and VHS tapes.
DIRECTIONS
- Open MediaGrabber by selecting it under the Apple menu or by double clicking on its icon in the #21 icon.
- Turn on and insert a videotape into one of the video players: HI-8, SVHS, or VHS.
- Under the Window menu, select --> Show Video and Show Video Control.
- Hit Play on the VCR.
Video should appear in the Video window.
If video does NOT play:
Change the Video Source (in the Video Control window). The source must be Composite 1 or S-Video.
Make sure NTSC is also selected in the same window.
If video still does not play, ask a Site Assistant to help.
GRAB IMAGE(S)
- Select --> Grab to Disk under the Image menu.
- Type in a name to identify your images.
**Be sure that the images are saved to your disk, or in the "Delete after 2 days" folder on the Temporary Storage. (Images can also be saved to the Desktop as long as the are thrown out immediately after use.)
- Select to grab images Manually or in Timed intervals.
(Timed intervals allows images to be grabbed in sequences or in a "stop-action" format.)
- To Save your images -->, click on the Grab button.
(While you are grabbing images you have full control of the VCR to play, rewind, pause, and so on.
- Click "Done" after all images have been grabbed.
- Each image should be saved as the name you typed in followed by a four digit number.
These images can be opened in Adobe Photoshop and/or video programs like Adobe Premeire, Avid Video WorkShop, and AfterEffects.
MediaGrabber also allows you to alter certain effects of the video image (i.e., color, contrast, hue, speed, and so on). But, these effects can be achieved just as effectively in the programs listed above.